Outboard motor assembly



Dec., 13 1932 L. J. JOHNSON ET AL,

OUTBOARD MOTOR ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 16. 1928 ea, 13, 1932; 1 J. .joHNsoN E'rm.e ouTBoARD MoToR ASSEMBLY Filed Jan, 1e, 192e Samus-sheet s vll,

Patented Bec., i3, i932 UNITED STATES raarste PATENT OFFICE LOUIS J. JOHNSON, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, .AND HARRY L. JOHNSON, OF WAUKE'AN,

' ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN-SON BROTHERS ENGINEER- ING CORPORATION, OF SOUTH BEN D, INDIANA, A CORPORATION F INDIANA oU'rBoAEp Moron ASSEMBLY Our invention relates to outboard motor constructions.

In our present construction we provide an outboard motor readily attachable to standard types of boats and constructed `and arranged so that the housing or frame carrying the propeller is relatively broad and flat, being of stream-line construction or substantially so, and rigidly turnable with the propeller and housing and propeller drive whereby this housing provides rudder surfaces to assist in steering when the boat is being steered by the rotating propeller, as is customary, and also provides a turnable rudder by which the boat may be steered when the propeller is motionless as for instance in coasting. In fact, this stream-line frame carrying the propeller and housing the propeller drive-shaft constitutes a rudder for the boat. In installations for the larger boats this housing may be extended rearwardly or otherwise to provide steering surfaces of enlarged area and greater eective- ,which lprojects into the water as an enclosing casing of stream line construction to a point above the Iwater level whereby those portions of the casing which are both below and above the water level will offer a minimum resistanee in passing through the water and in utilizing this stream line casing as a means for enclosing not only all the operating parts for the propeller but also as a means for enclosing a water circulatingpassage adapted to carry the cooling water from a point `below the normal water level upwardly through the casing to the jacket of the motor; and

further in providing this streamline enclosing casing with a rearwardly extending anticavitation plate disposed thereon at a point below the normal water level and` adapted to overlie the wake of the casing and 'particularly the propeller blades to prevent cavitation; and further in'utilizing the under portion of this anti-cavitation plate as a water gathering mouth associated with the propeller itself and arranged so that the propeller in rotating will act as a pump to assist in causing water circulation through the water jacket of the engine; and furthermore in conjunction with this water gathering mouth and propeller,`we also provide the stream line enclosing casing with a return passage for,

the -cooling water, the port of which is arranged adjacent to the propeller and in-'ront of the same lso that the suction of the propeller will draw the water out through the port, thereby assisting the rearwardly disposed gathering mouth in circulating the water; and this streamline casing as thus constructed is made turnable about its substantially vertically disposed axis so that the boat may be positively steered by turning the propeller casing in the desired direction or in constructions such as illustrated wherein the casin is turnable 360 degrees about the vertical axis, for not only steering but also reversing. In certain larger sizes of outboard motors, particularly where the stream line surfaces of the housing extend rearwardly suiciently far, they will provide steering surfaces of enlarged area and greater eectiveness so that when the propeller is not rotating, as in coasting`v these very same stream line surfaces passes through the water jacket of the engine. y Yet another object of our invention resides 1n the particular construction and arrangement of thls water gathering mouthvpreferably at the rear of the path of revolution of the propeller-blades whereby the propeller itself, when rotating, serves automatically to feed the water through the circulating system and wherein, when the propeller is motionless, the movement of the boat through the water and the flow of the water past the stream-line'contour of the housing, causes a portion of the water to be diverted by the water gatherng mouth and forced through the circulating system. An ancillary object of this featureof our invention resides in the location of this water gathering Vmouth and particularly its constructional relation to the stream-line sides of the housing whereby such mouth projects laterally beyond the planes of the stream-line so as to be in position to gather water thereinto as the water flows past the propeller housing. Another ancillary object resides in disposing the'front face of the gathering mouth at a slight inclination to the front to back plane of the housing whereby to cause the propeller more l V effectively to force the water into the mouth.

Yet another obj ect of our invention resides inthe provision of a propeller-carrying housing consisting of a one-piece light metal casting including a propeller-guard, a propellershaft bearing, an anti-cavitation plate and a portion extending thereabove to the normal water line, all of such portions being of stream-line contour.

Still another obj ect of our invention resides in the internal construction of the propellercarrying housing and particularly in the arrangement of the. passages therein for the conduction of water through and out of the housng on ts way to and from the water jacket of the engine. An ancillary object resides in the disposition of certain of these internal passages and chambers within the housing as containers for a lubricant for the propeller-shaft and bearings.

Yet another object of our invention resides in the manner in which the water for the water circulating system for cooling the engine is conducted from the top portion of the propeller-carrying rudder to` the engine by, means of a detachable tubular section containing separate water passages adapted devtachably to connect with the motor section and the rudder and which tubular section is adapted to enclose the'vertically arrangedpropeller-shaft above the housing.-

These and other features of our invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specifications when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plane view of the underside of the motor head;

Fig. 3 is' a rear view of the propeller---car`-l rying section;

Fig. 4 is a front View of the same;

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view takenk through .the lower portion of the unit showing the water liow;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a section on linc 10-10 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a section online 12-12 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Fig.

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14-14 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 15 is a section on line15-15 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 16 is a section on line 16--16 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 17 is a detail showing the inclination of the water gathering mouth.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the motor 2 is shown as provided with a lower integral crank case casting 4 terminating in a plate-like coupling member or casting 6, see Fig. 2, which detachably couples to the upper portion of a tubular section or casing 8 having an upper boss 10" and a lower bess I 12 forming guides to receive a supporting collar 14 adapted to be clamped in position around said tubular section 8 by means of opposed pairs of clamping screws 1G and 18. This supporting sleeve 14 has a laterally cxtending casting 18 provided with a hollow, 'transverse bearing 20 and two bracket arms 22 and 24 theformer being provided with a clamping screw 26 whereby the outboard motor may be fastened upon and supported on the stern board of the boat. The details of construction of this bracket and of the sleeve 14 are not new in the present appli. The sleeve 8 is freely turnable in cation. the supporting collar or sleeve 14 so that this sleeve and the motor may be turned about a substantially vertical axis while at the same time the sleeve and motor and propeller-carrying housing hereinafter described, may be tilted about the transverse pivotal axis 2O thereby allowing the lower end of the device freely to move upwardlyv and rearwardly when the propeller-guard hereinafter de- -s'cribed' comes in engagement with an obstruction or the like, thereby preventing breakage of the device and at the saine time allowing it to rise when goingover shoal places.

The motor driven shaft 28 passes through y the lower portion of the' motor head crank case'and casting plate 6 and passes through the tubular sleeve or upper sectionl 8. The lower portion of the tubular sleeve 8 has outwardly flared sides or walls 30 -at its lower end which walls, approaching stream-line contour, terminate in a coupling plate which plate is provided with bolt receiving openings 34 and 36 and two water conduit openings' 38 and 40 for the reception of water ,pipes 42 and 44 which pipes extend the length l"of the tubular sleeve 8 and are flared inwardly and upwardly at their lower portions. They are preferably formed substantially parallel at their mid-portions and then flare upwardly and outwardly at their outer portions, terminating in openings 46 and 48 in the upper plate or casting 50 which bolts to the bottom portion of the plate or engine casting 6. This casting 6 in turn, is provided with registering apertures 52 and 54 which connect with -the openings 46 and4 48 to provide a continuous water passage and these apertures 52 and 54 are, -in turn.v connected with the threaded ends 56 and 58 to the intake and discharge water pipes 60 and 62 on opposite sides of the engine cylinder casting and which water pipes in turn connect with the water jacketed portions of the engine cylinders. All of this is shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Ono of the main features of our present invention resides in the stream-line constructionof or substantially stream-line construction of the housing which carries the propeller. In our present invention the entire housing which projects into water is formed of stream-line construction and is arranged to house and enclose not only the propeller shaft and the lower extension of the motor shaft 28, but in addition, the wat-er `circulating means which carries the water from au inlet located below the normal water level upwardly to and through the cooling jackets of the motor and thence preferably downwardly again to a point of discharge beneath the water level, and in addition, this streamline housing carriesthe anti-cavitation plate and also carries the means for automatically forcing the water through the water circulating system. ln our illustrated and preferred construction, the water line comes about midway between the anti-cavitation plate and the top of the rudder. In other words, we have found that at high speeds, for the Satisfactory and complete functioning of our rudder, it is necessary that the stream-line contour extend above the water level a suliicient distance to take care of the various adjustments and other circumstances that arise during operation. We form thelpropeller housing or frame as a preferably integral casting of relatively light metal, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. It may be appreciated that instead of providing an integral casing, this casting may be made in sections, but we prefer to form it of an integral casting comprising the lowermost propeller-guard 64, the housing 66 for the transverse propeller-shaft which extends upwardly as at 68 to the anticavitation plate 70 and an upper portion 72 extending above the anti-cavitation plateto a point above the water level and which terminates in a coupling plate 74 adapted to connect by means of bolts 76 to the lower coupling plate 32 at the lower portion of the tubular sleeve 8. The bearing .or housing 66 encloses the substantially horizontal or transverse propeller-shaft 78 and this bearing 66 is provided with appropriate internal bearings 80 and 82 of the vertical shaft 88 of the substantially vertical motor driven shaft'. There is a coupling member 90 which couples the upper end of the lower shaft 88 to the lower end of the motor driven shaft 28. The front end of the housing portion 66 is provided with a detachable nose 92 adapted to bolt,.as at 94, to the portion 66 and this nose is provided with an opening 96 normally closed by a screw and into which lubricant or grease may be introduced to the interior of the nose which forms a bearing for one end of the'propeller shaft 78. This nose 92 is likewise of stream-line construction and forms with the portion 66 a continuous stream-line contour at this point. The propeller 98 is rigidly mounted on the rear end of the propeller-shaft 78 and the walls of this propeller are tapered in streamline manner to form acontinuous stream-line body with the nose 92 an'd the house portion 66. By reference tothe figures of the drawings it will be seen that the entire housing extending from the lowermost point, such as the propeller-guard 64 to a point above the normal water level, is of stream-line contour and by reason of such fact prevents the creation of voids at the rear of the housing as the boat is propelled through the water. This is an importantfeature of our present invention. In

order to permit steering, the motor is provided with a laterallyv extending rail 100 and with a tiller handle 102 so that when the handle is turned, the motor, together with the sleeve 8 and the connected propeller-carrying housing, will be turned in the corresponding direction. Thus the housing of stream-line contour and design not only carries the propeller but houses the means for driving the propeller fromthe primemover, in this instance vthe motor. It will, of course, be understood that the scope of our invention includes a construction wherein this propeller-carrying housing may be turned by appropriate control means without turning the motor, and

it will also be understood that whereasin our apart on the arc of a circle whereby the housing is not completely turnable in a complete circle but is turnablel through an arc suiicient for the usual rudder steering movement.

In another aspect, our invention also contemplates the utilization of the housing as a means for carrying a water circulating means for the water jac et of the motor. ventioii also includes an arrangement whereby this means includes a water gathering mouth or inlet arranged so that during the forward travel of the boat, the gathering mouth is in the path of a moving column of water, which latter is caused to be moved either directly by thevpropeller itself or by the forward travel of the boat through the water (and in some of our constructions the rearward travel of the boat through the water) to force the water upwardly to the water jacket of the engine. The invention also preferably includes the utilization of the housing as an element of the meansfor causing the return flowof the circulating water after it has passed through the water jacket of the engine, in which instance we prefer to' conduct this discharge by means of the housing, to a point below the water level and in a manner so that irrespective of any operative position of the housing during steering, or propulsion of the boat forwardly or back# wardly, the water discharge orifice will coristantly function toassist in the circulation of the water through the water jacket.

In another aspect our invention also .includes a cooling system for outboard motors wherein the housing of stream-line contour which extends up to the water level and which carries the propeller, forms an element of the water circulating system for the water jacket'of the motor, and this contemplates the disposition of av water-inlet and discharge opening on this Vhousing and located below the water leVeL-and the inclusion of the rotating propeller carried by the housing as an element in the water circulating system.

Our invention also contemplates the Y incorporation, as a. part of thisv propeller-carrying' housing which extends to the waterA level and is of stream-line construction throughout its height, of a water gathering mouth disposed with reference to the streamline of the housing and including connections to the motor jacket housed by the housing so that duringv the forward movement of the boat, the water will be forced thereinto and will be caused automatically to pass through the water jacket of the engine and this feature of our invention includes either the positive forcing of this water through'the circulating system by means ofthe forward travel of the boat causing the water to .pass into the 'water gathering mouth or by causing the propeller itself to force the water into the water gathering mouth.

An important feature vof ourinvention resides in the fact that in any and all positions' of the housing, the water-inlet and discharge orifices for the cooling'system maintain a constant relation tothe housing, being carried thereby, and in particular maintain a The inconstant relation to the propeller-blades and their path of travel.

In the form of our invention selected for illustration, the housing is provided with inhollow sleeve 100 forming a part of the partition walls, extends-up to the top of the propeller housing where it terminates and is formed with a peripheral flange 102 and a recessed counter-seat 104 within which is seated the coupling member 90 which couples the power shaft 16 with' the lower section ofthe power shaft 89. In addition, the propeller housing is provided with a transversely disposed horizontal partition wall 106 which separates the discharge water chamber 108 fromthe lubricant containing chamber 110. This lubricant containing chamber surrounds the gears 84 and 86 and also surrounds the propeller-shaft 78. Immediately beneath the anti-cavitation plate which is shown as preferably cast integral with the curved surfaces and on its underside and facing the mouth 116 of the chamber 110 it is provided with an inlet 118 across which are located a series of spaced apart pins 120 which constitute a. strainer. By reference now to Figures '3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that this mouth is approximately twice as wide as the width of the water passage-way 122'which is taken on section line 14-14 of Figure 5 of the drawings and it will also be Seen thatthis gathering mouth projects on each side of the stream-line portions 68 and 72 of the propeller` housing whereby, during the forward movement of the boat, the water which passes by the stream-line propeller casing will be forced into the gathering mouth 114 and will thence be forced up through the channel 122, thence up through the inlet water chamber 124, thence upwardly through the inlet pipe 42 to the intake pipe A56 leading to the water jacket of the engine.

the cross-over passage 112 and out through the discharge chamber 110 and mouth 116.

By reference to Figure 17 it will be noted l they will more effectively throw or force the water into the mouth. This inclination is, of course. always made with respect to the correct directional rotation of the propellerblades. This arrangement is particularly useful in traveling through the water at low speeds. Not only do we utilize the motion of the 5 boat through the water for causing the circulation of the water from a point below the normal water level, but it will also be noticed that in addition, by arranging the outlet mouth 116 of the discharge chamber 110 0' in a direction facing the rear of the boat, we utilize the movement of water past the stream-line housing to assist in sucking the water out of the discharge mouth 116. The location of this discharge` mouth 116 below i the water level is very important since it permits the rush of the water past the housing surfaces to pull the discharge water from 1nouth'116. In the present construction, we have preferably arranged this discharge 0 mouth 116 at the rear of the-path of travel of the propeller-blades whereby the suction effect of the propeller-blades, as they rotate will, in addition, cause a positive suction at the mouth of the discharge chamber 110 to pull the water through the circulating system. It is apparent that our invention includes the location of this inletv 118, and also the outlet 116 at' various points on the rudder to utilize the function of the movement of the o rudder through the water for not only sucking the water from the discharge chamber but also Iin causing the propeller to suck it out. In addition, our invention includes the location of these water inlets and outlets, or either o J them at desirable points'to utilize not only the force of the water caused by the movement of the boat therethrough in one instance, automatically to feed the water through the circulating system, but also wherein the revolu- 9 tion of the propeller-blades is utilized for automatically circulating the water through the water circulating system of the motor. Thus, with respect to one aspect of our invention weutilize the propeller as one element of the water circulating system to assist in the propulsion ofwater through the system and this may be accomplished by thepropel ler in various different ways.

It will thus be seen that by the construction 9 and `arrangement of ourimproved stream-line housing, extending as it does, to a point above the water level, and being entirely Ofstreamline contour throughout its entire height, we have provided a construction which permits 5 of the travel of the boat through the water at relatively high speeds, since the stream-line contour at the water line together with the presence of the anti-cavitation plate will prevent the formation of voids at the rear of the housing'caused by the travel of the housing through the Water, and hence will prevent the formation of air pockets at the propeller. In addition, byreason ofthe stream-line contour of the housing throughout its entire height and especially to a point above the water line, the throwing of spray by means of this housing when the boat is traveling at high speeds, is eliminated.

It will be further appreciated that by having this housing of stream-line contour as hereinbefore described, and utilizing it as a means for carrying the propeller and as a means for housing the propeller driving connections extending upwardly to the motor, a construction is provided wherein this propeller may be turned to various positions during steering, while at the same time forming a stream-line housing to a point above the water line for driving connections of the propeller and motor.

It will also be appreciated that in our present construction wherein the housing itself is of stream-line construction to a point above the water level and wherein it carries the propeller and houses the driving mechanism from the propeller to the motor and wherein this housing is arranged to be turned not only to various positions for steering, but is arranged in the-particular instance to be turned completely to eXtreme reverse positions of adjustment so that the propeller may be utilized for driving the boat forwardly or backwardly, we have provided a very ingenious and highly advantageous arrangement, and this broad aspect of the arrangement includes not only the present construction wherein the housing is turned rigidly with themotor, but also constructions wherein the housing is f turned about a substantially vertical axis without turning the motor.

It will also be appreciated by reason of our improved housing construction we are enabled to utilize this stream-line housing which carries the propeller as an element for circulating water from the body of Vwater through which the boattravels, upwardly through the water circulating jacket of the motor, and as hereinbefore pointed out, this construction is capable of various arrangements for either forcing the water upwardly to kthe jacket by reason of the propulsion of the boat through the water causing arelative travel between the water and the housing carrying the water-inlet for the circulating system or, alternatively by reason of the revolution of the propeller itself, which directly forces water into the water inlet of the circulating system,or as in the present instance, these two means may be combined.

` Another advantage of our invention from c part of the Water circulating system for the motor, located below the Water level and constructed and arranged so that the movement of the boat through the Water, causing the travel of the Water past the housing, will suck the Water from the discharge orifice .of the water circulating system. Alternately', our invention contemplates the utilization of the revolutions of the propeller for also accomplishing this same function and in the present instance We prefer to locate thedischarge orifice relatively to the travel of the propellerv blades themselves, so as to cause a suckin effect which will pull the discharge water om the discharge orifice. Manifestly, the scope of our invention is broad enough to include Vother arrangements for causing the revoluf4 tion of the propeller to automatically draw the Water through the circulating system. In our present construction we have utilized both of thesevfunctions, that is, We have located the dischar e orifice on the housingl so that the rush o water past the stream-lineisurfaces of the housing will assist in pulling the water out ofl the discharge orifice, and We have also located this discharge orifice at the rear of the path of travel of the propellerblades so that the ,latter will also pull the water out of the discharge orifice. In this construction one function will aid the other. It will be appreciated that various constructions, arrangements and sizes of this discharge orifice and also of the inlet orifice for the circulating system are contemplated. It will be appreciated that in such constructions, by reason of the mounting of these orifices on the stream line propeller, the forcing and drawing action of the Water into and out of the circulating system is at all times opera-` tive, and it W1ll be particularly appreciated that in the present instance where this housing is particularly reversible, so that the propeller carried thereby'l may propel the boatforwardly or backvvardly, the inlet or discharge orifices, or either of them, will be in constant position, irrespective of these or other operative positions of the housing and the propeller carried thereby to draw the Water into and out of the circulating system.

TheV disposition of the outlet or discharge mouth of the Water cooling system with relation to the propeller is not confined to the rear or suction side of the propeller since the same might also be locatable at the water forcing side of the propeller providing the discharge outlet faces in the direction of the flow of the water. So also this discharge orifice might be placed some distance in front of the propeller on the housing in the lso called sheet stream or flow of the Water past the housing, and in this instance it would also be facing toward the rear of the pro- It will also be appreciated by reason of the internal construction of my improved housing, and particularly With reference tothe stream-line contour thereof and its extension to a point above the Water line, we are enabled to utilize this turnable housing as a means for housing the Water connections to the motor jacket, while at the same time 'permit high speeds of travelof the boat through the Water. We are also enabled to provide a very advantageous assembly not only of the housing in shiftable operative position, but also of connections from the housing to its shifting and supporting means and also with relation to the substantially vertically disposed motor, drive .shaft passing therethrough and housed thereby and the connections to the propeller-shaft proper, housed and mounted on the housing. In addition, the internal arrangement of this housing provides a chamber or chambers for the housing of lubricant for the propeller driving mechanism and the provision of stream-line openings through the'housing surface into which this lubricant may be inserted.

In addition, another advantage ofour present construction resides in the construction of the housing as a practically integral casting including the housing guard, the bearing for the transverse propeller-shaft and the structure thereabove extending to the Water line and including the anti-cavitation plate, all of stream-line contour, and this castingl is easily assembled by the utili zation of a nose cap,- and the propeller, which are connectable to the casting4 and when so connected, y,complete the stream-line contour. It must be appreciated that this casting may be formed with the nose cap integral With the casting, but in the present construction we prefer to form the nose cap separately for ease in assembly.

Still a further feature of our advantage resides in the provision of an upper-tubular section or sleeve adapted to be bolted to the top of the stream-line housing and which upper section at its bottom is of stream-line contour or approaches a stream-line contour, and this upper section is highly advantageous in facilitating ease in assembly and it is further featured by the fact that it is provided.

with the separate inlet and outlet pipes connecting the housing Water compartments with registering Water openings in the base of the crank case.

Still a further advantage vof our improved tion of`the discharge water, but also to provide anintegral water gathering mouth at its rear adapted to deflect the Water into the inlet of the circulating system; and a further advantage of this inlet mouth `resides in its relatively wide dimension and arrangement atthe rear of the stream-line sides of the housing and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom. A further feature resides in the details of arrangements of this gathering mouth with respect to the oppositely disposed water discharge mouth located at the rear and between which the propeller-blades travel to accomplish the functions hereinbefore described.- y

' Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

, 1. In an outboard motor construction, the combination o f a motor having a water jacket, a housing carrying a propeller and means enclosed by the housing for driving the propeller from the motor, said housing extending upwardly to the water level and being of stream line construction; and water circulating means for conducting water 'from a point below the water level upwardly to the water jacket of the engine by means including a passageway housed by the housing, said passageway terminating in a water gathering mouth located at the rear of the housing and of sufficient width to extend outwardly laterally thereof beyond the outermost plane of the stream line side surfaces of the housing.

2.- In an outboard motor assembly, the com` bination of a motor having a substantially i vertically depending drive shaft and a tubular sleeve surrounding said ldrive shaft, a housing rigidly mounted on said tubular shaft, said housing including a propeller guard, a

" substantially cylindrical bearing for the propeller shaft and having a portion extending upwardly to a point above the normal water level said latter portion extending upwardly including an integral and rearwardly extending anti-cavitation plate, sai-d upwardly extending portion being of stream line construction to a point above the normal water level. v

3. In an outboard motor assembly, the combination of a motor and a housing, said housing carrying a propeller, said housing extends l ing upwardly to the water level and being of streamline construction throughout its.

height, the said housing including an antiand connecting with the passageway formed.

in the anti-cavitation plate at one end and connecting to the water jacket of the engine at the other end.

4. In an outboard motor, the combination of a water jacketed motor, a housing of light weight metal and including as an integral casting, a propeller guard, a propeller shaft bearing, and an upper portion extending said mouth with the water jacket ofthe motor.

5. In an outboard motor assembly, the conibination of a water jacket, a motor and a housing, said housing carrying a propeller, said housing extending upwardly above the water level and being of stream line construction throughout its height, said housing having a centrally disposed vertically extending sleeve therethrough and lateral partitions di,- viding the housing into a water-inlet passage` way and a water discharge passage, an anticavitation plate extending rearwardly of the housing and terminating in a 'water gathering nozzle connected to the inlet passage, said anti-cavit`ation plate forming a discharge chamber terminating in a mouth disposed in spaced relation from the gathering mouth, said discharge orifice and gathering mouth being located on opposite sides of the path of travel of the propeller blades, a cross over passage formed interiorly on the under side of said anti-cavitation plate and connecting the water discharge chamber on one side of the centrally disposed hollow sleevewith the water discharge chamber on the other side thereof. and water conduits connecting the inlet of discharge chambers in the housing to the inlet and discharge chambers of the water acket of the motor, and a drive shaft connected to the motor and to the propeller, s aid drive shaft passing through a centrally disposed tubular sleeve formed in the housing.

6. In a device of the class described. the combination of a water jacketed motor anda housing, said housing extending to a point vabove the water level and being of stream line construction throughout its height, said housing carrying a propellenand said housing being formed with inlet and water/discharge terminating in orifices disposed below the normal water level, and an upper tubular section detachably bolted to the upper poi'- tion ofo the housing. the lower portion of said section being substantially of stream line construction. said upper section having its top detachably connected to the motor, said section having mounted therein water pipes connecting with the passages i-ii the housing and with the `passages in the motor.

7. In a water propulsion device, the comloo Vil

bination of a support, a propeller thereon, said support carrying a water-inlet connected to thewater jacket of the engine and located at the rear of the path of travel of the propeller-blades, said inlet being inclined so that one lateral edge is closer to the path of travel of the'propeller blades than the other, said inclination .being in a direction to assist the water forced rearwardly by the'propeller to enter the inlet.

8. In an outboard motor construction, the combination with a stationary support having a stream like bearing, a substantially vertically dependinghollow sleeve mounted for turning in said bearing, an explosion motor mounted on the upper end of said support and having its crank shaft concentric with the axis of the turnable tubular sleeve, a drive shaft extension for said crank shaft passing downwardly through said tubular sleeve, a housing rigidly mounted at the lower portion of said tubular sleeve, said housing enclosing the lower portion of said vertically extending drive extension shaft and enclosing a propeller shaft disposed at right angles to said drive shaft and enclosing driving connections between said shafts, a propeller mounted on the end of saidpropeller shaft, said housing eX- tending from its propeller shaft portion upwardly toa point a ove the normal water level and being of stream line construction throughout such extension and said housing.

having a relatively thin anti-cavitation plate cast integral therewith and located at a point below the norml water level at a point such that it extends over the path of travel of the propeller blades, and said housing having two vertically extending internal passages, each opening below the normal water level and each connecting to water conducted means passing upwardly through the hollow sleeve, and means connecting each of the passages in said hollow sleeve with the water jacket of the engine.

9. An outboard motor construction` comprising a sleeve like support, a tubular sleeve turnably mounted therein, an explosion motor mounted on the upper end of said tubular sleeve and having a drive shaft passing through said tubular sleeve and depending substantially vertically, a vertically extending metal housing rigidly connected to the lower portion of said tubular sleeve and enclosing the lower portion of the verticallyv depending engine drive shaft, the lower por;

tion of said housing having a horizontally disposed barrel like portion, a= horizontal drive shaft mounted in said barrel like portion, and geared connections between said horizontal shaft and said vertically depending drive shaft enclosed in said housing, a propeller on the end of said horizontal shaft, said housing carrying a rearwardly and latand said housing being of stream line construction from the barrel shaped portion upwardly to a point above the normal water level and said housing being provided with two spaced apart internal water-passages eX- tending vertically lu wardly therethrough, the lower portions, o said passages opening below the normal water level of said housing, and means forming two spaced apart water conduits extending longitudinally upwardly through said tubular sleeve on opposite sides of the vertically depending drivev shaft mounted therein, said passages communicating respectively with lthe passages in the housing-and with-the water jacket of the engine whereby when the housing is moved through the water, it may be freely turned for steering while at the same time permitting water to flow from the body of the water in which the housing is submerged upwardly.

through said housing and through said tubular sleeve to the water jacket of the engine' and thence down through said tubular sleeve and said tubular housing, backwardly into the body of water in whichithe housing is submerged.

10. In an outboard motor construction, the combination of a motor having a water jacket and vertically depending drive shaft, a tubular sleeve concentrically surrounding said drive shaft, said tubular sleeve being formed on its lower portion with a flange, a housing of stream line formation, said housing being provided on its upper portion with bolt openings, bolts passing through openings in -the flange on the tubular sleeve and into the openings in the upper 4portion of said housing whereby to secure said housing to the lower portion of said tubular sleeve and said drive shaft passing through said tubular sleeve and into the lower portion of said housing, a propeller shaft carried by the lower portion of said housing, a propeller on said shaft and gearing connections housed in said housing and connecting the drive shaft and the propeller shaft.

- 11. In combination in a device of the character described; a submersible housing element provided with an anti-cavitation plate intermediate its top and bottom, a bearing partition dividing said element transversely .into forward and rearward chambers; and a erally extending anti-cavitation plate overv lying the path of travel of the propeller blades 

